Faithful Flashbacks #73: The Birth of the Shotgun Formation

No. 73 on our 'Faithful Flashbacks' countdown features a former 49ers coach inventing a game-changing offensive formation:

BY BRENDEN NUNES

May 28, 2026, 5:56 AM Updated: Jun 1, 2026, 7:50 am

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In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called “Faithful Flashbacks.”

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of the Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

As you’ve seen with the first few moments featured on ‘Faithful Flashback,’ it’s not always a full game or electric play. No. 73 on the list marked the beginning of a style of play that eventually took over the entire league.

Back in 1960, then 49ers head coach Red Hickey was looking for a way to jump-start his struggling offense. With the goal of giving his quarterback more time, he developed what is known as the “Shotgun Formation.”

Rather than having the quarterback directly under center as was standard, Hickey had him move a handful of yards back. In hindsight, it doesn’t seem like the most creative move, but attempting to explore beyond the standard others set can always be risky.

It faded in and out for years before becoming more common, then more commonplace. By the 2010s, it had taken on a whole new life while elite QBs like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Eli Manning capitalized on the schemes’ advantages as the league became more pass-heavy.

That trend has only continued upwards since then, with being under seeming to be the greater outlier for most modern offenses. Credit to former San Francisco head coach Red Hickey for being innovative and influential in the game he probably could never have imagined.

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

June 9-10, 2026 – Mandatory Minicamps
Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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